April 28, 2025<\/a><\/p>\nHe was also asked about his surprisingly poor playoff results.<\/p>\n
\u201cHonestly, it\u2019s a surprise in my world, too. When I\u2019m watching my game, there\u2019s a certain way I need it to look and want it to look,\u201d Hellebuyck said. \u201cAnd it would be crazy to go that many regular-season games and then all of a sudden switch something up in the playoffs. You don\u2019t win 47 games and then come the playoffs (and) switch everything up.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know how it needs to look. I like a lot of things. I\u2019m not going to go and make huge changes. That being said, I\u2019m going to be better. That\u2019s my job, and that\u2019s the foot that I\u2019m putting forward. I can\u2019t be giving up this many goals.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u2019s right. He can\u2019t. And he is the No. 1 player on the list of Jets who could make a huge difference for Winnipeg in this series. He doesn\u2019t have to reinvent himself. He doesn\u2019t have to put each game on his shoulders.<\/p>\n
He has to stop more pucks.<\/p>\n
2. Josh Morrissey<\/p>\n
Morrissey is supposed to be the best defenceman in this series. Instead, he\u2019s been on the ice for five Blues goals at even strength, tying Luke Schenn for the most on that front, and we\u2019re still waiting for Morrissey\u2019s moment. This is not the norm for a player known for quick retrievals, smooth transition play and dominant shifts in the offensive zone \u2014 and it\u2019s costing him at both ends of the ice.<\/p>\n
Fowler, Parayko and Justin Faulk have outscored the Jets\u2019 top defenceman, while the Blues have 15 hits on him through four games.<\/p>\n
As it turns out, all of Winnipeg\u2019s defencemen are taking a pounding: Dylan Samberg is the only minutes-eater who has absorbed fewer than three hits a game so far. Credit the Blues\u2019 forecheck. Criticize Hellebuyck\u2019s puckhandling, with an eye on how Jordan Binnington keys breakouts at the other end of the ice. Either way, the bruises are adding up.<\/p>\n
Morrissey\u2019s placement on this list is a testament to the high expectations he\u2019s created for himself. He is arguably the Jets\u2019 second most important player (after Hellebuyck), and we\u2019re still waiting for him to put his stamp on the series.<\/p>\n
3. Adam Lowry<\/p>\n
Lowry took responsibility on Monday for his ill-timed penalty, hauling down Tyler Tucker during Tucker\u2019s battle with Morgan Barron. The Blues didn\u2019t score on their power play \u2014 not officially, anyway \u2014 but Schenn scored soon after Lowry\u2019s penalty had ended. The Blues\u2019 goal took a combination of poor backtracking, a Samberg fall and Hellebuyck\u2019s one-handed paddle attempt. But the needless penalty kill sapped the Jets\u2019 second-period momentum all the same.<\/p>\n
Lowry has two minor penalties, 14 penalty minutes and seven shots in the series, but his only point is an empty net goal. Lowry\u2019s line is supposed to be one of Winnipeg\u2019s biggest strengths: The heart of a middle-six forward group that can go head-to-head with any team in the league and win its minutes. His 56 percent share of on-ice shot attempts offers encouragement, but Lowry needs to find a better way to help.<\/p>\n
4. Vladislav Namestnikov<\/p>\n
When a good, two-way player is a poor finisher, it\u2019s easy to remember them for the scoring chances they don\u2019t convert. Namestnikov is such a player, making smart decisions in his zone and playing a tenacious brand of hockey in all three zones. Winnipeg\u2019s offence also has died on his stick far too often for a No. 2 centreman. He has only five shot attempts all series \u2014 three of which forced a save \u2014 and zero points in the playoffs. Extend his scoring drought to the regular season, and Namestnikov has only one goal and 12 assists in his last 33 games.<\/p>\n
Namestnikov is versatile and hardworking, and the only way the Jets will go far in the playoffs is if he produces points alongside all of the effort. It\u2019s a good reminder of why\u00a0Winnipeg tried so hard<\/a> to acquire a No. 2 centre at the trade deadline.<\/p>\n5. Nino Niederreiter<\/p>\n
Another veteran, another stat line that includes zero points. Niederreiter played parts of Game 1 like he was shot out of a cannon. He\u2019s good along the walls and makes hard plays that keep the puck in the offensive zone: Winnipeg has over 50 percent of the shots and expected goals with Niederreiter on the ice, just like Namestnikov, Lowry and other Jets forwards who have failed to produce thus far. Niederreiter is one of the best play-driving forwards in either team\u2019s middle-six, but 16 Blues have more points than he does this series.<\/p>\n
6. Luke Schenn<\/p>\n
Schenn is supposed to be the ideal third-pairing defenceman: calm, steady and so sheltered from top competition that the other team doesn\u2019t get a sniff while he\u2019s on the ice. Instead, he\u2019s looked slow, he\u2019s made giveaways that lead directly to goals against, and Winnipeg has been outscored 5-3 with him on the ice during five-on-five play. He was never meant to be an offensive defenceman, but Schenn also has stood out for a lack of incisive decision making at the offensive blue line, especially when the Jets are chasing the game.<\/p>\n
Schenn is usually good at clearing the net front. His physicality is welcome on the boards and the PK. He\u2019s also unique on the roster in that he\u2019s a Stanley Cup champion and a veteran of over 1,000 games. Despite those qualities, no one in any series has put his team short-handed more often than Schenn (5) has in Round 1.<\/p>\n
Finally, some good news<\/p>\n
The Jets are getting Gabriel Vilardi back for Game 5. He\u2019s going to play on the top line with Connor and Scheifele, and it\u2019s going to cause a positive ripple effect throughout the lineup.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m expecting Alex Iafallo to take Niederreiter\u2019s spot on the second line. This creates a slightly different look for Namestnikov and Cole Perfetti, and returns Niedereiter to the third line where he\u2019s had most of his success. These lines are much closer to Arniel\u2019s ideal than what we\u2019ve seen for much of the series.<\/p>\n
Nikolaj Ehlers will not return soon. Expect him toward the end of Round 2 or the start of Round 3 if the Jets make it that far.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0429JetsGame5.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
If this lineup gets it done, glory. If they lose, the greatest season in franchise history ends in disappointment.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re in a good spot,\u201d Hellebuyck said. \u201cIt\u2019s a best of three. I like our odds, and we\u2019ve got home ice advantage. That\u2019s where our mindset is going forward. That\u2019s all we can do.\u201d<\/p>\n
(Photo of Connor Hellebuyck: Dilip Vishwanat \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n